The last time we went to see a production at Your Theatre,Inc., which is located on Rivet Street in New Bedford, we drove past Fernando’s Grille and Bar (418 Rivet Street) and was impressed by the outside alone. I had never heard of this restaurant and it
looked to be a fancy place so we made a note that we would visit at some point
to give it a try. This week, we were heading
back to Your Theatre, Inc. for another production and this gave us the perfect
opportunity to dine at Fernando’s.
We arrived at 6:30 p.m. and we were greeted by a hostess at
the main entrance. She offered to seat us at a high table in the bar area. When
we told her we would prefer to wait for seating in the dining area, she advised
that it was a 45 minute wait. The high
table in the bar it is!
As soon as we were seated, a basket of rolls was brought to
our table along with a bowl of olive oil seasoned with parsley and crushed red
peppers. There were also a few small containers of butter, if we preferred that
instead.
In addition to the wine menu and food menu, we were also
given a list of specials for the evening. Appetizer specials included
Bruschetta, Caprese Salad and Tomato Basil Soup. Dinner specials included
Swordfish, Stuffed Haddock, Salmon, Lobster Ravioli, Roasted Duckling and Veal
Chops. Before I had an opportunity to
review the actual menu, the waitress arrived to take our drink order. I had my typical Malibu and Diet Coke ($5.50)
and my husband ordered a Long Island Iced Tea ($9.00).
While waiting for our drinks to arrive, we finished
reviewing the menu. There were several
choices that looked delicious, making it difficult to decide. I was torn
between the Stuffed Haddock special ($17.95), the Lobster Ravioli special ($18.95)
and the Grilled Atlantic Salmon ($18.95) from the main menu. I decided to choose the Stuffed Haddock,
filled with seafood stuffing finished with lobster champagne saffron sauce. I
think it was the description of the sauce that helped me make my choice.
My husband finally gave in to a craving he had been having
for a few weeks and ordered Chicken Parmigiana ($13.95) for his entrée. The menu described this dish as a lightly
breaded chicken breast with fresh basil tomato sauce, reggiano parmesan and
aged mozzarella cheese.
Our drinks arrived, we placed our orders, and we had an
opportunity to take a look around the restaurant. Our seating did not allow us to get a
complete view of the dining area but we did have a great view of the bar, which
spanned the entire length of the back room. Red backlighting created a nice
ambiance and showcased a beautiful display of wine bottles on each side of the
bar. The liquor bottles were also illuminated with lighting that changed color
and showcased the frosted bottles. Looking up, I noticed the ceiling was
ornamented in terra cotta colored stamped tin designed with angel harps,
wreaths, and other ornamental designs. The ceiling was a perfect complement to
the dark walls that were painted in grays, greens and purples. Natural hardwood
flooring that was throughout the restaurant completed the look.
Noticing the time was 7:15 p.m., I started to worry if we
would make it to the 8:00 p.m. show that we planned to attend. Almost on cue, the waitress stopped by to
tell us that our meals would be next out of the kitchen. True to her word, our meals arrived less than
five minutes later.
 |
| Chicken Parmigiana |
My husband’s Chicken Parmigiana looked so delicious that I
immediately reached over and had a bite of the linguini pasta that was on his
plate. I did, however, wait patiently
for him to cut into his chicken before I asked for a bite of that. It tasted as
good as it looked. The chicken breast was lightly breaded and perfectly cooked
with a thin layer of melted cheese on top.
My meal also looked delicious and was served with red bliss
mashed potatoes and roasted butternut squash.
Although I was not given a choice of sides, I will say that the mashed potatoes
were very good and had a hint of parmigiana cheese that added to the flavor. I took a bite of my butternut squash before
giving it to my husband. While I’m not typically a fan of squash, I have to
admit that the maple and cinnamon on this roasted squash made it taste more
like a dessert than a vegetable.
 |
| Stuffed Haddock |
The star of my meal was of course the Stuffed Haddock. The haddock was fresh and flaky and was
covered in a delicious, creamy sauce that was as good as it was described. The
seafood stuffing had a bit of spiciness, which I liked, but couldn’t figure out
where the spice was coming from.
We finished our meals and promptly paid when our check
arrived (it was now 7:40 p.m. – only 20 minutes until show time)! The total
cost for the evening, including tax, and another drink for my husband, was
$58.21. Fernando’s looks fancy on the outside but they offer reasonable priced,
delicious meals with a great atmosphere. Both my husband and I agreed that we
would have no problem dining there again!
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